Saturday, 9 May 2015

Bookshop: Yorkshire Quality Paperbacks, Pickering

I really wanted to start a series where I visit and post about lots of independent booksellers throughout the UK, or even worldwide! I posted about the amazing Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, but have yet to post about any in the UK. That is about to change! I recently visited the small market town of Pickering with my parents and grandparents, and searched for bookshops (and record shops) on Google beforehand. I found that there were a few second hand bookshops in the town so I was eager to track them down.

I stumbled upon Yorkshire Quality Paperbacks by chance as it was right opposite the train station! It doesn't look like much and sort of looks like someone's home, but inside it is absolutely packed to the rafters with books. There are lots of different sections, including: crime, classics, travel, westerns, romance and poetry to name just a few. The classics section was seriously impressive and featured every classic novel you could probably ask for, and all for no more than a couple of quid!

The guy running the shop was so funny with such a dry personality and he didn't stop offering us some great deals! He told my mum that if she bought a huge pile of craft books he'd charge her 20p per book. He offered a huge pile of old Penguin books to me for 50p per book and was selling those old Ladybird books for 25p each! He was also really helpful with locating specific authors and genres when my dad and grandpa asked. I left with a smile on my face as he was such a nice guy, never mind the fact that I got some great deals!

Here's what I bought:

Stoner by John Williams

I paid £1 for this, and I've seen this exact edition in Waterstones for full price. I also featured this novel in my top-five to-read books post. It's in almost perfect condition and is a book that I've thought about buying brand new a few times now.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I've already read this one. I have a lot of these Penguin Modern Classics but I couldn't remember if I owned The Great Gatsby or not. I know I have it on my Kindle, but I'm still not sure if I already own it. I only paid £1 for it, so I can always sell one copy at a car boot or take it to my local charity shop if I already do. Update: I checked and I already own it. Oh well, off to the charity shop you go.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I absolutely love this book and only own the Kindle version. I planned to buy this edition brand new, but I only paid £1.25 for this one and it's in great condition.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeI recently started reading this on my Kindle, but I'm already loving it and want to read it on a physical copy. I loved the bright orange cover of this edition and I couldn't resist it for just £1.50. I might pass it on to a charity shop after reading though, as I want it to match my copy of Go Set a Watchman that I know I will buy, and I'm sure they won't release a bright orange copy.Notes From a Small Island by Bill BrysonMy dad has always read Bill Bryson and even though he is usually wetting himself with laughter whilst reading, I've never felt the urge to pick up one of his books. It wasn't until Bob read one of his books and also was close to wetting himself that I thought I needed to experience Bryson for myself. Notes From a Small Island is about the UK so I thought it would be the best one to test the waters. I paid £2 for this, bargain.You can find Yorkshire Quality Paperbacks at the following address:1 Park StreetPickeringNorth YorkshireYO18 7AJRachael Amy

We had a secondhand book shop in our town called War on Want, which aims to work with the poor. I loved popping in after school and picking up books, to be fair they were at least £1 - £2 a book a bargain! but unfortunately they had to close because they weren't getting enough customers :( x

OOOOh, I love this post! I've been to Pickering and have friends near there so I am keen to now go and find this place when I visit them!!!! I have been to some amazing second hand bookshops. In Felixstowe Suffolk, there are two amazing ones that are huge! One is called 'Poor Richard's' (and he found EVERY book I wanted!) and then the 'Castle bookshop' whose shelves add up to 1 3/4 miles in total length!x

This is such a great post and has really spurred me to go visit a local bookshop for amazing deals! They're always such interesting characters that run them as well. Bill Bryson's Notes From A Small Island is one of my favourites, so good choice there ;)